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Women's rights and gender
Gender equality – A basic principle in German development policy
"Equal rights, equal duties, equal opportunities and equal power for women and men" is one of the basic principles of German development policy. Promoting gender equality is a cross-cutting issue that touches all areas of German development cooperation. Germany's policy is based on international agreements on women's rights. It aims to involve women and men equally in the development process and to improve women's position and their empowerment in the long run.
Gender Equality Strategy
The 2001 Gender Equality Strategy adopted by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is based on the concept of "gender". That means its point of departure is the social rights and duties of women and men, which are changeable and constantly undergoing change.
Germany's development policy pursues a dual approach to the promotion of gender equality:
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Gender mainstreaming
The various living conditions and interests of women and men are taken into account in all development policy projects. The gender-sensitive planning and implementation of bilateral development cooperation (projects, programmes, priority area strategies, political dialogue) means the concerns of women and girls are appropriately taken into account. -
Women-specific support measures
At the same time Germany is committed to supporting projects geared specifically to women in order to compensate for discrimination against women and to help them realise their rights.
The Gender Equality Strategy contains binding requirements that the BMZ and its implementing agencies must adhere to when shaping development cooperation.
Action Plan on Gender 2009–2012
The Development Policy Action Plan on Gender 2009–2012 describes what Germany is doing to fulfil its international obligations in regard to the promotion of gender quality.
The Action Plan defines four areas in which there is an especial need for action:
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Economic participation of women:
The BMZ promotes the economic empowerment of women and is working to ensure that the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) core labour standards are met. -
Women in armed conflicts and their role in conflict resolution:
Mass rape and violence against women are increasingly being used as weapons of war. The BMZ ensures that women are afforded especial protection and given targeted support during armed conflicts so as to be actively involved at all levels in conflict and crisis resolution. -
Gender-specific challenges and responses to climate change:
As their families' providers, women are hit especially hard by any loss of earnings, failed harvests and water shortages. The BMZ will examine the risks arising for women on account of climate change, in particular in the water, agriculture, healthcare and infrastructure sectors, and will then take appropriate action. -
Sexual and reproductive health and rights – family planning:
The BMZ supports measures to realise the right to sexual and reproductive health and to give women better access to family planning methods.
Action Plan on Human Rights
The BMZ’s Development Policy Action Plan on Human Rights 2008–2010 focuses in particular on the rights of women. Specific measures included in the Action Plan are the commitment to realise sexual and reproductive health and rights, and promoting the implementation of international conventions and agreements on women’s empowerment.
